Walking 8241 Steps a Day Helps Maintain Weight Loss

Walking approximately 8,241 steps a day after completing a weight-loss programme can help maintain the reduction, according to a study presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul. The research reviewed 14 randomised controlled trials involving 3,758 people from the UK, US, Australia and Japan who were overweight or obese before participating in weight-loss programmes.

Those who increased their step count after losing weight kept off most of the pounds in the weeks and months that followed, while those who did not regained weight. Researchers from the University of Modena in Italy compared two groups. One group of 1,987 people took part in lifestyle modification programmes, including reduced-calorie diets.

The second group of 1,771 people either dieted alone or received no treatment.

Participants' daily steps were recorded at the start of the trials, at the end of an eight-month weight-loss phase and after a further ten-month weight-maintenance phase. Both groups started at about 7,200 steps per day. The lifestyle group increased to 8,454 steps during the weight-loss phase and averaged 8,241 steps afterward, maintaining a typical loss of 3 kg.

The control group did not increase steps and did not lose weight at any point. The additional steps are thought to burn calories at low intensity without causing the extreme hunger or fatigue that can follow dieting and lead to increased food intake.

A spokesperson for the research said increasing steps to 8,500 each day offers a simple and affordable strategy to prevent weight regain. The review, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, showed a clear link between higher step counts and avoiding weight regain after loss.

Around 80 per cent of people who lose weight tend to regain some or all of it within three to five years. Tackling obesity remains a significant public health issue in the UK, where 65 per cent of adults are overweight and 30 per cent are obese. One in three children leave primary school in England overweight, including one in five who are obese.

Obesity is associated with reduced life expectancy and conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver and respiratory disease, and cancer. Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk for global mortality, causing 6 per cent of deaths each year, according to the World Health Organisation.

A physically active lifestyle can reduce the risk of serious diseases by 20-35 per cent.